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Ghana tackle Cranes of Uganda in Marrakech today

Ghana will play Uganda in their second international friendly in Morocco as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.

The Black Stars lost to the Super Eagles of Nigeria 2-1 in Marrakech on Friday, March 26 2024, despite an improved second half performance at Grande de Stade Marrakech where Nigeria scored in either half to take a commanding lead before Jordan Ayew pulled one back through a 95th minute penalty.

Otto Addo named a blend of young and experienced squad for these friendlies with some of his key players missing. Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, Joseph Painstil, Mohammed Kudus, Alexander Djiku, Daniel Amartey and Inaki Williams were left out of the squad for injury concerns but youngsters like Forson Amankwah, Ebenezer Annan, Ibrahim Osman, Ernest Nuamah and Jerome Opoku put in an astonishing performance against Nigeria to give the coach a selection dilemma for the forthcoming games in June.

Ghana started the game with Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Alidu Seidu, Patrick Kpozo, Edmund Addo and Jerome Opoku in the five-man backline. In midfield, the coach opted for Baba Iddrisu, Abdul Samed Salis and Forson Amankwah as he named Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo and Ernest Nuamah in the front three.

The gaffer later switched to the three back system by moving Alidu Seidu to the left and introduced Tariq Lamptey on the right wing position with Ebenezer Annan coming on for Baba Iddrisu later on. The switch gave Ghana more energy despite being reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute following a red card to Jerome Opoku.

On the other hand, Uganda was crashed 4-0 by Comoros in their first game and will come into this match as wounded lions hoping to have a go at the Stars to redeem themselves. Uganda have been a pain in the neck of Ghana in recent years with both nations having one win each in their last five games with the other three ending in a draw.

Ghana’s last win over Uganda was in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon where Andre Ayew scored a penalty to hand Ghana all the spoils in the group stage. Whilst Uganda’s last win dates back to 2015 when Savio Kabugo scored to give them the three points in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Kampala.

Ghana coach Otto Addo is expected to ring some changes to the squad by bringing in experienced players like Mohammed Salisu, Andre Ayew, Tariq Lamptey and Joseph Wollacott, whiles Ibrahim Osman, Ebenezer Annan, Francis Abu and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku wait for their chance.

The Black Stars are on a rebuilding exercise after crashing out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire following one defeat and two draws in the group phase.

The experience from these games will help Otto Addo to assess his team ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June. Ghana will travel to Bamako to take on Mali before hosting Central African Republic in Kumasi.

The game against Uganda is scheduled for 16:00 Hrs Kick Off at Grande de Stade Marrakech on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank

A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.

The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.

The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.

Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.

The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.

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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.

Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.

He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.

“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.

President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.

He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.

He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.

“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.

Source: Myjoyonline.com